The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Jennie K. Fallah
8 May 2008
The traffic division of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has called on the public to cooperate with officers in enforcing and implementing traffic rules and regulation.
Making the call at his LNP office on Capitol Hill, Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Traffic, Miekee S. Gray, told the INQUIRER that it is impossible for the police to carry on smooth and speedy operations without the fullest cooperation of the public.
Addressing the issue of commercial drivers carrying one passenger in the front seats of their taxis and the fastening of their seat belts, Commissioner Gray emphasized that the police will make sure that this law will be enforced and noted that many times, the LNP started the process of enforcing the traffic safety rule but it was downplayed by the LNP and the public. "This is why I am urging the Liberian people to put me to test, and I want to assure them that this time around, it will work; I want you people to rest assured," he said.
Speaking further, he lamented that the process was long overdue and that this is the right time for said policies to be implemented. He stressed that if Liberians continue to blame everything on the war, our country will never progress.
He stressed that the increment in the price of gasoline is no excuse for drivers to carry two persons in the front seat while many countries around Africa purchase gasoline for the equivalent of US$5.00 and above; yet cab drivers only carry one in the front and three in the back. " What do the public want us to do if we relax on carrying out our duties? " They say we are not functional and that we are too lenient and when we try to enforce it, they say we are being too hard on them; let the public give us chance to do our work and let them understand that it's for their own safety," he added.
Commissioner Gray stated further that for now, the police are only sensitizing the drivers and the public, and that the police are not going to harass or arrest any driver for now but as of next week, violators will be penalized and brought to justice.
Outlining other safety rules, he stated that from now onwards, all licensed motor cyclists would ply the streets with license plates attached to their bikes and two helmets; one for the driver and the other for the passenger.
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